Word
生かす
Meaning in Englishto keep something alive; to make use of
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
Related sentences
Related sentences
There are no published items in this section yet.
Word context
What it means
What does 生かす mean? It means to keep alive or to make the most of something. In use, it denotes sustaining life or applying a resource, skill, or opportunity effectively to produce a desired result.
Main meanings
- keep alive or sustain life
- make use of a resource, skill, or experience effectively
- bring something to life or revitalize it
- capitalize on an advantage or opportunity
How to use it
Used across registers with wide applicability; common collocations include 命を生かす, 経験を生かす, 資源を生かす.
Variants and close terms
- 活かす, ikasu, to utilize
- 活用する, katsuyō suru, to leverage, to apply actively
- 利用する, riyō suru, to use
Composition
- 生 — life, living
- かす — kana suffix indicating causing or bringing about; attaches to 生 to form the transitive verb
Etymology
生 ikasu combines 生 (life) with a postfix reading かす to form a verb that conveys enabling life or applying vitality.
Word class
Verb (transitive) (動詞, 他動詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N3
生地
kiji
fabric, dough, base material
N3
誕生
tanjou
birth, emergence, creation
N3
生る
naru
to bear fruit
N3
生える
haeru
to grow, to spring up; to cut (teeth)
N3
生涯
shougai
one's lifetime
N3
生理
seiri
physiology, menses
N3
生やす
hayasu
to grow, to cultivate, to wear beard
N4
生産
seisan
production, manufacture
N4
高校生
koukousei
high school student
Kanji